Dickinson consulting role ending at Carnival Corp.

Former Carnival Cruise Lines president Bob Dickinson said his consulting role will not continue at Carnival Corp. after his contract expires on May 31.

Dickinson had been hired to help Carnival’s four North American brands get back on track after the uproar surrounding the Carnival Triumph engine room fire in February 2013.

Subsequently, Carnival tapped board member Arnold Donald to become CEO of Carnival Corp., in charge of all of the company’s ten brands.

Dickinson’s consulting assignment was focused in particular on travel agent relations at Carnival, Princess, Holland America Line and Seabourn, and how agents fit into marketing and distribution strategies.

In an e-mail, Dickinson said cruise lines should focus on growing their share of the vacation market.

"The proven way to accomplish that is through robust, sustainable TV campaigns on the one hand, and meaningful incentives (co-op advertising, commissions, workable group policies, etc.) to motivate agents to promote and sell cruises over other vacation alternatives,” Dickinson said.___